MASTER’S THESIS M-832 MOSS, Marvin Franklin. A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RHODESIAN PRESS AND ITS ROLE IN CON­ TEMPORARY RHODESIAN POLITICS AN D SOCIETY. The American University, M. A., 1965 Political Science, international law and relations University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RHODESIAN PRESS AND ITS ROLE IN CONTEMPORARY RHODESIAN POLITICS AND So c i e t y by ^ Marvin Moss Submitted to the Faculty of the School of International Service of The American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS Signatures ^ Committe Chairman : U j j Date : _______ AMERICAN UNIVERSITY Date: xf/âP./û>' LIBRARY April, 1965 JUN 7 - 1965 The American University WSMINGTON.D.C^ Washington, D. C. 4=3zoo TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ........................................ 1 II. INTRODUCTION TO THE RHODESIAN PRESS ............. 8 Origins of the Press ............................. 8 Early History ................................. 8 Recent History .... ........... ....... 12 Current Newspapers ............................... 16 Rhodesian Printing and Publishing Company . 16 Independent Papers ............................. IV Circulation and Distribution .................. 18 III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PRESS ..... 24 Capitalization................... 24 Rhodesian Printing and Publishing Company . 24 Independent Papers ............. ....... 30 Influence of Financial Sources and Directors on Paper Policy .................. 33 P e r s o n n e l ........................ 39 E d i t o r s ............... 39 R e p o r t e r s ........................................ 43 Rhodesian Guild of Journalists ............... 49 News Services and Sources ...... ......... 51 l A N A ............... 51 USIS and B I S ............................ 56 Rhodesian Information Service ............... 58 XIX CHAPTER , PAGE IV- POSITION AND ATTITUDE OF THE PRESS ON CURRENT ISSUES .................................... 61 Independence ..................« ................... 52 Political Parties ................................. 71 African Nationalist Parties ..................... 78 Majority R u l e ......................................84 V. THE INTERACTION OF PRESS, GOVERNMENT, AND SOCIETY .......................................... 88 The Press and the Law ................. 88 1961 Constitution ....................... 89 Law and Order Maintenance A c t ................. 91 Emergency Regulation ...........................96 Press-Government Relations ....................... 98 Basis of Press-Government Misunderstanding . 99 Developments in 1964 ........................... 102 The Cases Against the P r e s s ...................109 Banning the Daily News ................ Ill Government Relations with Radio and Television ..... .. 115 Press-Society Relations ......................... 120 Press Relations with the Financial C o m m u n i t y .....................................120 Press Relations with Political and Ethnic G r o u p s ........................... 125 IV CHAPTER PAGE The Press as a Creative Force ........ 131 VI. C O N C L U S I O N S .................. 139 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................... 145 APPENDIX A. Vernacular Press .......................... 151 APPENDIX B. Local Papers ............................... 152 APPENDIX C. The Zimbabwe S u n ............................ 153 APPENDIX D. Newsfront ..................... 154 APPENDIX E. Arthur Levin’s Confidential News Report . 156 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Rhodesian press has a history about as old as Rhodesia itself, Rhodesia is a young country as far as its European settlement is concerned— the pioneer column having entered the present boundaries in 1890. The press followed quickly in the pioneers * footsteps, publishing the first newspaper in Salisbury in 1891. Since then, this young country has been continuously served by an active, expanding press establishment. In the year 1964, the Rhodesian press entered a new period in its history that may well be recorded in future analysis as a turning point in the story of the newspaper business and Rhodesian journalism. The election of December, 1962, brought into power a new government headed by Winston Field. This government bore a certain amount of latent animosity toward elements of the press. In April, 1964, a new Prime Minister, Ian D. Smith, was chosen by a Rhodesian Front party caucus, and an intensified attack against the press by the government began. This paper will be concerned with the Rhodesian press from the break-up of the Federation on December 31, 1963, until December, 1964. By the nature of the paper and its central theme of the relationship of press and politics, 2 some historic background will be necessary, but history must remain peripheral to the core of the thesis which is contem­ porary. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role the press plays in contemporary Rhodesian political life. The interaction of the press with the government, the loyal opposition, the various racial elements of the population, and the business community will be dealt with in detail. This thesis is the culmination of research carried on in Southern Rhodesia at the University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, from September to December, 1964. During this period, events of great import in the history of Rhodesia occurred. Two bi-elections were held on October 1 in the affluent Salisbury suburbs of Avondale and Arundle, resulting in government victories in both constituencies and the strengthening of the position of the Rhodesian Front party. Later in October, an indaba or council of chiefs and headmen was held at Domboshawa to ascertain the feelings of the rural African populace toward Rhodesian independence. The fifth of November saw a nationwide referendum on the issue of independence. The Rhodesian press fully covered these events in its news articles and its editorials, giving the author further insight into the political situation in the country and the reaction of the press to political events. 3 Southern Rhodesia is in the strange position of being a self-governing colony under the nominal tutelage of Great Britain. Since 1923 and a referendum asking whether European Rhodesians wanted to join the Union of South Africa or to remain under Great Britain as a self-governing colony, Rhodesia has had its own government, owing ultimate alle­ giance to the crown and being subject to British review of its government’s actions. The current crisis in Rhodesia is based on this 1923 decision. The two other former terri­ tories of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland have gained their independence— Malawi in July, 1964, and Zambia in October, 1964. This leaves Rhodesia, probably the coun­ try best prepared for independence in an economic sense, still under nominal British control. This situation is exacerbated by the racial situation in Rhodesia and the drive by African nationalists to gain control of the reins of government. Britian is determined that Rhodesian inde­ pendence will come only when majority rule is feasible. This British position has led the Rhodesian Front, the governing party, to brandish its threats of a unilateral declaration of independence. The research for this paper was done completely in Rhodesia by the author. From the beginning, it was obvious that the best way to approach this subject was the interview as well as archival and background reading. Without the 4 interviews, this paper would have been impossible. It is difficult to obtain insight into the inner workings of any organization by reading its annual report or, in this case, its newspapers. These provide clues, but only the editors and managers can give the inside story about the running of a paper or a particular viewpoint of a government official. The very essence of this paper is these interviews. There is little printed about the Rhodesian press, and this paper is, undoubtedly, the first attempt at its particular subject. There is William Gale's book. The Rhodesian Press, which is the history of the Rhodesian Printing amd Publishing Company. It contains little of the controversy surrounding the press and is not current with the time frame covered in this paper. Clyde Sanger devotes an Appendix in his Central African Emergency to the Rhodesian press, but the author's interview with Sanger was much more important to the paper. Colin Leys refers to the Rhodesian press from time to time in European Politics in Southern Africa, but his conclusions are of mainly historical inter­ est. It was, thus, necessary for the author to turn to the newspapers, Hansard, and contemporary statutes, as well as the journalists and bureaucrats involved with the press, to accomplish his purpose. The Rhodesian National Archives was an immense help and Rhodesia can be very proud of such a well—managed, well-designed archives. 5 One problem encountered was the unavailability of some people important to the paper, Willifred Brooks, editor of Rhodesian Property and Finance, was one of these, as was Malcolm Smith, editor of the Rhodesia Herald. Mal­ colm Smith appointed Henry Maasdorp, an assistant editor, to represent him, and he did a most articulate job in repre­ senting the Herald. Generally, the editors interviewed were most cooperative. It was also surprising to the author that government officials were so readily accessible to an inves­ tigation of such a topical subject. A paper of this sort has never been attempted on the subject of Rhodesian press and politics. As the time limi­